Two former Parramatta Eels players are accused of harbouring semi-automatic weapons and possessing more than half-a-million dollars in cash after dramatic arrests in Sydney's Centennial Park yesterday.

A mother in the US thought she would never have a photo of her son with Santa Clause after learning he had autism.

Ms Deely’s son Brayden was diagnosed with autism when he was three - he has trouble with large, loud crowds and she had given up hope of ever having a photo of him on Santa’s lap, not wanting to expose him to the crowds.

“I thought we would never get those holiday pictures with him because it’s something he can’t handle – the noise, and the pressure,” she told PEOPLE.

“He gets anxious if you ask him to smile, it’s all too much for him.”

Then, on November 22, Ms Deely decided to try taking Brayden to a ‘Caring Santa’ event, organised by Autism Speaks, at her local shopping centre in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The program was set up to cater to families with children who have special needs, and require a unique experience in order to have photos taken with Santa Clause.

“They let you take all the time you need to let him warm up to Santa, so Brayden started out far away,” Ms Deely told the TODAY.com.